Second time win for NZ Photographer of the Year

24 September 2012

Second time win for NZ Photographer of the Year

Queenstown’s Jackie Ranken, who has won a string of prestigious awards during her career, has been named NZ Photographer of the Year 2012, in Christchurch last night. It is the second time Ranken has won the top accolade, previously claiming thetitle in 2008.

Her portfolio of photographs beat out stiff competition from the 1211 entries in the Epson/NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Awards. She also won Highest Scoring Monochrome Print for her Landscape image titled “Nevis Tree with Hand,” and the Portrait Creative category.

A professional photographer for 32 years, Ranken moved to Queenstown from Australia in 2004. She has been an international awards judge for seven years, and has many awards to her credit, including Professional Photographer of the year in Australia.

In Queenstown, Ranken runs photo safaris and photographic workshops with husband Mike Langford, president of the NZ Institute of Professional Photography, who won the Travel Category this year.

Chair ofNZIPP Honours, Kaye Davis, said Ranken had a portfolio that portrayed landscape and people in a unique way. During the finals, judging her work was described as “visual poetry, captured with a strong New Zealand essence.

“With over 1200 entries from around 180 photographers, the overall standard this year’s awards was exceptionally high. Judges recognised this with a total of 763 awards presented, including four gold distinctions and 40 gold awards.”

This year the largest number of entries occurred in the landscape, portrait, wedding and student categories.

The annual awards celebrate the excellence of New Zealand’s professional photographers, providing a platform for recognition within theindustry and the wider public.

Next year, NZIPP celebrates its 75th anniversary.

ENDS

Epson NZIPP Professional Photography Awards 2012

NZ Photographer of the Year 2012: Jackie Ranken, Queenstown

Overseas Photographer of the Year 2012: Paul Hoelen, Australia

Highest Scoring Colour Print: Richard Wood, Hastings

Highest Scoring Monochrome Print: Jackie Ranken, Queenstown

Commercial: Terry Wreford Hann, Wellington

Creative: Michel Perrin, Auckland

Fusion: Ollie Dale, Auckland

Illustration: Richard Wood, Hastings

Landscape: Anna Kernohan, Palmerston North

Photojournalism: Mark McKeown, Tauranga

Portrait Classic: Richard Wood, Hastings

Portrait Creative: Jackie Ranken, Queenstown

Student / assistant: Rochelle Swenson – UCOL, Palmerston North

Travel: Mike Langford, Queenstown

Wedding Classic: Bryan Isbister, Christchurch

Wedding Creative: Jake Thomas, Waihi

Wedding Album: Bruce Gabites, Auckland

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